California · National Monument trail

Big Nasty Trail Start, Tulelake, Ca

in California

A loop trail, Big Nasty is 2 miles (3.2 km) long. Named after a brush-covered rough lava area just to the north— “it is big and it is nasty!” From the Mammoth Crater/Hidden Valley pullout, the trail starts along the crater rim. Turn left from the Mammoth Crater Trail.

Due to the impacts of the 2021 Antelope Fire we ask that visitors stay on the marked trail. Lava Beds has twelve hiking trails. The most popular trails are short, but lead to interesting historic sites and geological features.

Due to resource concerns, pets and bicycles are not permitted on any park trails, on in non-developed area or caves. All trails cross or enter the non-developed backcountry, while the long trails are primarily in designated wilderness areas. The trails in this bulletin are arranged by their distance from the visitor center.

States: California
Trail type: National Monument trail
Centroid nearest city: Bend, OR · 164 mi · ~5 hr drive
Centroid coords: 41.6919°, -121.5452°

About Lava Beds National Monument

National Monument

This trail is inside Lava Beds National Monument, a national monument managed by the U.S. National Park Service. Conditions, road status, trail closures, and reservation requirements are published on the park's NPS page — check it before driving in, especially in winter or during major weather events.

Entrance fee: $25 per vehicle (verify current rate on the park page). An America the Beautiful annual pass ($80) covers entrance to all NPS units.

Official NPS trail page: https://www.nps.gov/places/big-nasty-trail-start-tulelake-ca.htm

Park homepage: https://www.nps.gov/labe/index.htm

Plan your hike

Practical notes

Maps + permits: long-distance trails like this often require permits for through-hiking, backcountry camping, or specific sections (especially in National Parks). Check with the maintaining organisation listed above and the relevant land manager before booking travel.

Water + supplies: water sources vary seasonally on most U.S. trails. Carry a filter and consult current trail-condition reports — through-hiker journals (PCT-L, AT Reddit, etc.) and the maintaining organisation publish regular updates.

When to go: hiking seasons vary widely with elevation, latitude, and snowpack. Through-hikers traditionally start the AT in March-April (Springer northbound) and the PCT in late April (Campo northbound). High-elevation western trails (CDT, JMT, Wonderland) generally aren't passable until July.

If you've hiked Big Nasty Trail Start, Tulelake, Ca and have current notes (water sources, trail closures, permit changes), tell us at /contact — we update pages as we learn.

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California